Premature development in young girls is becoming a problem in China, where growth hormones used in milk production have been found in certain baby formulas.Chinese Daily has reported that some Chinese baby girls are now developing breasts, and that the artificial growth hormones used in conventional dairy cattle are responsible.

Around the world, many conventional cattle herds are pumped up with artificial growth hormones like recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), which end up in the milk they produce. As a result, young children are being exposed to these hormones[2] when they drink milk, and this exposure is throwing off their normal, healthy development.

In China, growing instances of breast development in young girls has prompted the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the problem. Especially problematic is the fact that these same girls often have blood levels of estrogen similar to the amounts found in adult women,

After Chinese quality inspection agencies refused public pressure to test certain powdered milk formulas that were suspected of having high levels of growth hormone[3], officials decided to take matters into their own hands. The Ministry of Health has declared that a nine-member panel will investigate the claims and make a determination.

But there is already overwhelming consensus that growth hormones in milk are responsible, even though the particular milk powder[6] company in question vehemently denies any responsibility.

“Since a regulation forbidding the use of hormones to cultivate livestock has yet to be drawn up in China, it would be lying to say nobody uses it,” explained Wang Dingmian, former chairman of a Chinese dairy association.